SUNDERLAND'S outgoing chief executive Hugh Roberts has claimed he will leave Mick McCarthy a golden legacy as the manager tries to plot a Premiership return.

Roberts insists the new Academy of Light, and the club's new youth supremo Kees Zwamborn, will alleviate Sunderland's financial worries by producing a new generation of Black Cats players.

After seeing Sunderland accumulate debts of £26.6m, largely because of expensive mistakes in the transfer market, Roberts knows McCarthy will have to rebuild his team on the cheap.

However, he reckons Sunderland have the perfect base from which to attempt to arrest an alarming two-year slide.

Roberts said: "People have asked why we spent so much money on the Academy of Light, but it is crucial to the future of this club.

"Look at how much money we've already spent on players, and look at where we are. How much more could we have spent?

"Things have changed and we've got to focus on producing our own players rather than turn to expensive signings.

"That will be the future of football; that will be the future of Sunderland. Kees Zwamborn knows how to develop talent; he knows how to make that link between the academy and the first team.

"There are some good young lads at this club, and with Kees at the academy more and more will come through and make the grade."

He added: "We took the right action at the right time this year and I'm confident that Sunderland will be a successful club next season.

"We've done everything we can to ensure that. But we need to give the fans a winning team again."

Meanwhile, Sunderland have been linked with Senegal defender Ferdinand Coly, who is currently on loan at Birmingham City.

The full-back, who is unlikely to make his move to Birmingham from Lens permanent, played in his country's World Cup win over France.

Birmingham first-team coach Mark Bowen said: "My understanding is that Sunderland have shown an interest in him.

"He's played well in the last couple of reserve team games and obviously he's been seen by a few clubs in recent weeks. But I've got no idea what's going to happen."

* Five Sunderland players have been called up for international duty. John Oster is in a provisional Wales A squad ahead of a friendly with the United States in San Jose on May 26. Richie Ryan, who made his Premiership debut against Newcastle last month, is set to represent the Republic of Ireland Under-19s in their UEFA Championship qualifying group stage alongside England, Slovenia and Switzerland from May 19-23. And Sean Thornton, Thomas Butler and Cliff Byrne are in Ireland's Under-21 squad for Euro Championship qualifiers against Albania and Georgia next month.

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